Bulk material handling system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support, a guide member defining a passageway providing a circuitous path, having a base section supported on the support and a section cantilevered relative to the support; at least two sprockets disposed in such passageway and rotatably supported on the guide member, one of such sprockets being disposed in the cantilevered section of the guide member and having a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in the passageway along the circuitous path and reeved around the sprockets, and a plurality of discs spaced along such rope, and a motor for driving one of the sprockets, wherein the guide member includes a inlet communicating with the passageway for feeding material therein and a discharge outlet communicating with the passageway about a portion of the periphery of the one socket.

[0001] This invention broadly relates to a system and method fortransporting bulk materials from a first geographic location to adistant, second geographic location. It further contemplates a novelsystem and method for loading bulk material into a transportablecontainer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In many industries, modular steel containers have become a commonand useful means for transporting various goods and materials. Suchcontainers typically are mounted on flat bed trucks and trailers foroverland shipment, placed on railway cars for rail shipment, loaded onthe decks of freighters for overseas shipment and even placed in aircraft for air shipment. For shipment of bulk commodities, plastic filmliners have been developed for use in such containers which provide forthe shipment of a large variety bulk materials without danger ofcontamination or spillage of the materials being transported. Along withthe development and use of liners in modular shipping containers forhandling bulk materials, there has developed the requirement to providemachinery for filling lined modular containers efficiently withoutcausing any damage to the liners thereof. In the prior art, various bulkmaterial loading methods have been used for filling such linedcontainers but with limited degrees of success.

[0003] An example of an existing method of loading a bulk material intoa lined container is the use of a pneumatic conveying system. Suchsystem has become popular in use because of its comparatively simpleconstruction, essentially requiring a length of conduit and a supply ofhigh velocity and volume of air, its capability of conveying material tothe far end of a container and its ability to convey material relativelylong distances to modular containers without contamination or spillage.However, such type of system has a number of disadvantages which limitsits effectiveness in loading lined modular containers. Suchdisadvantages include the relatively high energy cost in producing ahigh volume and velocity air stream for conveying the materials, therisk of rupture of the liners within the containers caused by theimpingement of material particles propelled at high speeds, resulting inmaterial contamination or spillage, the risk of overpressurizing thecontainer causing possible damage to the liner or the container, and theproblem of handling large volumes of dust and air in the containers.

[0004] It thus has been found to be desirable to provide an improvedsystem and method of transporting bulk materials and more specificallyan improved system and method for loading bulk materials into linedshipping containers in which such containers are efficiently filledwithout rupturing or otherwise damaging the liner or the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present generally provides for a container which may beloaded with a bulk material at a first geographical site, transported toa second geographical site by means of land, sea or aircraft andunloaded at such second site, and a bulk material loader located at thefirst geographical site. The container preferably is provided with aliner within the compartment thereof and an access opening communicablewith the interior of the liner, in an end wall thereof, adjacent a topwall of the container. The loader comprises a mechanical type conveyorgenerally including a drive sprocket, a spaced driven sprocket and arope assembly including a rope disposed along a circuitous path andreeved about such sprockets and a plurality of discs secured to andspaced along the rope driven at high speeds for creating a column of airand conveying bulk material in the conventional manner. The conveyor isprovided with a cantilevered section including the driven sprocket,which is insertable through the access opening in the container end wallfor conveying material into the container compartment. The drivensprocket in the cantilevered, insertable section of the conveyor isoriented with its axis of rotation disposed substantially vertically sothat the sprocket may be positioned close to the upper end of thecontainer compartment and displaced along the length of the compartmentto tangentially disperse material carried by the rope assembly,throughout the compartment. The container end wall also is provided witha discharge opening at the lower end thereof to permit the discharge ofmaterial in the compartment at the final destination of the containersimply by tilting the container to cause the gravity flow of materialthrough the discharge opening.

[0006] The access opening in the container end wall may be disposed inthe center of the end wall or adjacent a side wall of the container. Inaddition, the container end wall may be provided with a pair of accessopenings and the conveyor may be provided with a pair cantileveredsections insertable into such access openings. In such latterarrangement, it is contemplated that the rope assemblies of the twosections would be driven in opposite directions to provide a suitabledispersion pattern of the material injected into the containercompartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a bulk material handling systemembodying the present invention, having a portion thereof broken away;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1and 2, illustrating a cantilevered section of a conveyor aligned with anaccess opening in the rear end of a container prior to insertionthereof;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to the view shown in FIG. 3,illustrating the conveyor as having been advanced toward the containerwith the cantilevered section thereof inserted into the access openingin the end wall of the container;

[0011]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of the end portion of thecantilevered section of the conveyor shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, havinga portion thereof broken away;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the portion of the cantileveredsection of the conveyor shown in FIG. 5, having portions thereof brokenaway;

[0013]FIGS. 7 through 9 are side elevational views of the system shownin FIGS. 1 through 4, illustrating the cantilevered section of theconveyor inserted into the container compartment and furtherillustrating sequences in the filling of the container compartment withbulk material;

[0014]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a conveyor incorporatinganother embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a conveyor and a containerincorporating a further embodiment of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

[0017]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG.11;

[0018]FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the dispersion pattern of materialresulting from the use of an embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the dispersion pattern shownin FIG. 14;

[0020]FIG. 16 is a top plan view of another dispersion pattern ofmaterial resulting from the use of an embodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the pattern shown in FIG.16;

[0022]FIGS. 18 through 26 are side elevational views of conveyorsincorporating still further embodiments of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of theinvention, illustrating the container portion thereof mounted on theflat bed of a truck;

[0024]FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of a seagoing freighter havingbulk material containers loaded on the deck thereof, forming componentsof the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of several railway cars havingbulk material containers placed thereon, forming components of thepresent invention;

[0026]FIG. 30 is a side elevational view of a truck carrying a containerforming components of the present invention, illustrating the containerbeing dumped at a destination site; and

[0027]FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of a container mounted on atrailer forming components of an embodiment of the invention,illustrating the trailer being tilted to discharge the contents of thecontainer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9 of the drawings, there isillustrated a material handling system incorporating an embodiment ofthe invention. Generally, the system includes a container 40 and aconveyor assembly 41. Container 40 is adapted to be mounted on the flatbed of a truck 42 which may be maneuvered to a position adjacent aloading dock 43 as shown in FIG. 1. It preferably is constructed ofsteel and has a substantially rectangular configuration including topand bottom walls 44 and 45, a pair of side walls 46 and 47, a rear endwall 48 and a front wall (not shown) defining a compartment 49.Container end wall 48 is provided with an access opening 50 and adischarge opening 51. Access opening 50 is disposed in the center of endwall 48 adjacent container top wall 41. Discharge opening 51 similarlyis disposed in the center of container end wall 48 adjacent bottom wall45. Disposed within compartment 49 is a plastic film liner 52 which isadapted to conform to the interior configuration of compartment 49.Typically, such a liner will be closed, will be suspended from hangerssecured to the container top wall and will be secured to the bottom wallfor receiving bulk material to be loaded within the container. A rearsection of the liner engaging the container end wall 48 is provided witha spout portion 52 a which is adapted to extend through access opening50, and a spout portion 52 b adapted to extend through discharge opening51. When the liner in compartment 49 is filled with bulk material to betransported, spouts 52 a and 52 b are adapted to be closed and securedto prevent loss of material therethrough.

[0029] Conveyor 41 is adapted to cooperate with container 40 to loadbulk material therein, and includes a support frame structure 53, amechanical conveyor assembly 54 supported on the support frame structureand a material feeding assembly 55. Frame structure 53 may be stationaryand secured to dock 43 or may be supported on sets of wheels 56 and 57to permit the conveyor to be displaced along a line of travel toward andaway from a container 40 mounted on a truck backed up to dock 43. Suchstructure also may be supported on rollers provided with a set of tracksfor displacing the frame structure along the fixed line of travel.

[0030] Mechanical conveyor 54 includes a base housing 58 supported onframe structure 53, a head or discharge housing 59, a pair ofintermediate housings 60 and 61, a pair of substantially verticallydisposed conduits 62 and 63 interconnecting and intercommunicating basehousing 58 and intermediate housings 60 and 61, and a pair conduits 64and 65 interconnecting and intercommunicating housings 60 and 61 andhead housing 59. Such housings and conduits define a closed circuitouspassageway between base housing 58 and head housing 59. Journaled inbase housing 58 is a drive sprocket (not shown) adapted to be driven bya motor mounted in a housing 66 partially supported on a set of wheels67. Disposed in intermediate housings 60 and 61 is a pair of similarsprockets (not shown) and disposed in head housing 59 is a drivensprocket 68 as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Disposed in the passagewaydefined by such housings and conduits is a rope assembly 69 including anendless rope 70 reeved about the sprockets mounted in housings 58, 60,61 and 59 and a plurality of discs 71 secured to and spaced along rope70. As best shown in FIG. 6, each of the sprockets is provided withcircumferentially spaced recesses for receiving the spaced discs of therope assembly as a segment of the rope passes around a grooved peripheryof the socket.

[0031] Functionally, mechanical conveyor 54 operates in generally thesame manner as the bulk material conveyor described in U.S. Pat. No.5,186,312, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which isincorporated herein by reference. The conveyor generally operates in amanner whereby upon operation of the motor mounted in housing 66, thesprocket mounted in base housing 58 will be driven to correspondinglydrive the rope assembly. As the rope assembly is driven at a high speedin the order of 720 feet per minute, bulk material fed into base housing58 will be caused to be displaced from base housing 58 to head housing59 and be discharged therefrom. Discs 71 are clearance fit within theconduits and because of the speed at which they travel, they exert bothair and material displacement. Such action tends to cause the materialsto take on a fluid like property which enhances volumetric output.

[0032] Conduits 64 and 65 and head housing 59 lie in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and constitute a cantilevered section of mechanicalconveyor 54. Such section is disposed at a height sufficient to permitits insertion into access opening 50 when container 40 is positionedrelative to the loader assembly as shown in FIG. 1. Under suchconditions, the cantilevered section will not only be insertable throughthe access opening in the container end wall but also will be positionedat an uppermost portion of compartment 49 within liner 52.

[0033] As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, head housing 59 includes a rearend wall 72 provided with openings communicating with the interiors ofconduits 64 and 65, and upper and lower walls 73 and 74. Sprocket 68 ismounted between such upper and lower walls and is provided with asubstantially vertical shaft 75 journaled in a depending hub portion 76of lower housing wall 74. The outer arcuate edges of upper and lowerwalls 73 and 74 cooperate with rear wall 72 to provide an arcuateopening 77 of housing 59, through which bulk material displaced by ropeassembly 69 from base housing 58 is discharged. The centrifugal forceexerted by the rope assembly traveling about the outer periphery ofsprocket 68 causes material displaced by the rope assembly to bedispersed tangentially relative to sprocket 68, through arcuatedischarge opening 77. The particular dispersion pattern of the conveyorwill depend on the material being conveyed, the speed at which the ropeassembly is driven and the dimensions of the components. FIGS. 14through 18 illustrate sample patterns in which bulk material is causedto be deposited within compartment 49. The arcuate length and theposition of arcuate discharge opening 77 may be varied and the directionof drive of the rope assembly may be reversed to provide differentmaterial dispersion patterns.

[0034] Material feeding assembly 55 includes an upper hopper 80supported on frame structure 53 having a lower duct portion 81communicating with a housing 81 provided with a lower hopper 82. Ahorizontally disposed screw conveyor 83 intercommunicates the lower endof hopper 82 with an inlet of base housing 58. Upper hopper 80 isadapted to receive the lower end of a bag 84 holding a supply of bulkmaterial to be loaded into container 40, which is provided with a bottomopening to permit material contained therein to be gravity fed throughhousing 81 and hopper 82 into screw conveyor 83 which then functions tofeed the material into base housing 58. As previously indicated, thediscs of the rope assembly will engage and convey material fed into basehousing 58 to head housing 59 from where it is dispersed tangentiallyinto compartment 49 within liner 52. The high speed of the rope assemblyfunctions to fluidize the material displaced by discs 71 thus enhancingthe flow of material from base housing 58 to head housing 59. Also,provided on mechanical conveyor 54 is a vent line 85. An inlet portionof such line is mounted on the cantilevered section of the mechanicalconveyor and is insertable through access opening 50 with thecantilevered section into a compartment 49 within the liner. Thedischarge end of such line is connected to a filter section 86 ofhousing 81. Filter section 86 includes a number of transversely disposedfilter elements 87 through which air is drawn by impeller in theconventional manner. Vent line 85 functions to vent airborne particlesof bulk material produced by the discharge of bulk material from thehead housing of the conveyor. Airborne particles drawn through vent line85 are conveyed to filter section 86 and filtered out of the carrierstream of air by filter elements 87. Periodically, filter elements 87are backflushed to dislodge any bulk material particles depositedthereon causing such dislodged particles to gravity fall into screwconveyor 83 to be fed back into mechanical conveyor.

[0035] Containers 40 are designed and dimensioned so that a truck ortrailer on which such a container is mounted may be maneuvered into aloading position relative to a dock as shown in FIG. 1, to permit theinsertion of the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor throughthe access opening in the rear end wall of the container. The accessopening further would be positioned adjacent the top wall of thecontainer so that when the cantilevered section of the mechanicalconveyor is inserted through the access opening, it will be positionedas close to the top wall of the container as possible in order tomaximize the amount of material to be loaded into the container.

[0036] In the operation of the system as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6,with container 40 and loader assembly 41 properly configured and theloader assembly in a retracted condition, truck 42 having container 40inounted thereon is maneuvered to position container 40 adjacent loaderdock 43 with access opening 50 longitudinally aligned with thecantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor of assembly 41. With thecantilevered section and the access opening thus properly longitudinallyaligned, liner spout 52 a is drawn through access opening 50 and spreadapart to provide an opening for the insertion of the cantileveredsection into the compartment within the liner. Loader assembly 41 isthen advanced toward the container to insert the cantilevered sectioninto the container within the liner. The extent to which thecantilevered section is inserted into the container compartment willdepend on the length of the compartment, the amount of material to beloaded into the container and the dispersion pattern desired. Once thecantilevered section is in the inserted position, the drive motor of theconveyor is operated to cause the rope assembly to begin travel. Screwconveyor 83 is then operated to begin feeding material from holding bag84 to base housing 58. Bulk material thus fed into base housing 58 willbe conveyed to discharge housing 59 to be dispersed tangentiallytherefrom into the compartment within the liner. Prior to suchoperation, however, liner spout 52 a will be gathered around and securedto the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor and a portion ofvent line 84 to seal the opening between the liner spout and thecantilevered section components. Airborne particles produced by the bulkmaterial dispensed by the rope assembly within the container will because to be drawn through the inlet of the vent line and conveyed tofilter section 85 from where it subsequently will be caused to bedislodged and recirculated into the mechanical conveyor through thescrew conveyor. As the bulk material is thus loaded into the container,the loader assembly may be either maintained in a single position ordisplaced along a longitudinal line of travel to alter the dispositionof the bulk material within the container.

[0037]FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate a sequence in the filling operationin the manner described. The tangential dispersement of the bulkmaterial from the discharge housing and possibly the displacement of thecantilevered section within the container result in a fairly uniformdeposit of material within container, as shown. Furthermore, the fairlyshallow profile of the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyorwithin the container adjacent the top wall thereof permits the containerto be filled to a capacity of about 80%. Once the container within theliner is filled up to a level just below the discharge head of thecantilevered section within the container, the drive of the ropeassembly is discontinued and the loader assembly is displaced away fromthe container to withdraw the cantilevered section from within thecontainer. After the cantilevered section has been withdrawn, linerspout 52 a may be closed thus allowing for the truck or trailer on whichthe container is mounted to be driven away and thus transport thecontainer to a desired destination. The loaded container mounted on atruck or a trailer may be transported on such truck or trailer to itsfinal destination or may be unloaded and reloaded onto another mode oftransportation including a land vehicle, a water craft or an air craftas shown in FIGS. 27 through 29. A container mounted on a vehicle asshown in FIG. 1 or reloaded on a vehicle subsequent to being transportedby means of other modes of transportation as described, may be unloadedby suitably positioning the truck or trailer carrying the containerrelative to a receiving hopper, drawing discharge spout 52 b throughdischarge opening 50 in the container rear wall and either tilting thecontainer relative to the flat bed of the truck or trailer or tiltingthe entire truck or trailer as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 to cause thebulk material within the container to gravity flow through the dischargespout into the receiving hopper.

[0038] A container loaded as described may be transported from theloading site to its final destination either by a single mode oftransportation or by intermodal means including land, sea and aircraft,and various combinations of such transport means. FIG. 27 illustrates acontainer 40 transportable on a truck 90. FIG. 28 illustrates acontainer 40 which may be offloaded from a truck, trailer or railway carby a crane 91 and loaded onto the deck of a seagoing freighter 92. FIG.29 illustrates a container 40 loaded onto a flat bed railway car 93.

[0039] Although the loader assembly consisting of the support framestructure 53 and the mechanical conveyor 54 and the material feedassembly 55 mounted on the support frame structure, has been describedas being displaceable along a line of travel for inserting andwithdrawing the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor relativeto a container compartment, it is within the contemplation of thepresent invention to provide for a stationary loader assembly as shownin FIG. 10. The loader assembly shown in FIG. 10 consists of amechanical conveyor 100 stationarily mounted on a loading dock 101, anda material feeding assembly 102. Conveyor 100 includes a base housing103, pairs of vertically spaced intermediate housings 104 and 105 and adischarge housing 106. Interconnecting and intercommunicating basehousing 103 and intermediate housings 104 is a pair of horizontallydisposed, transversely spaced conduits 107, interconnecting andintercommunicating pairs of intermediate housings 104 and 105 is a pairof vertically disposed, transversely spaced conduits 108 andinterconnecting and intercommunicating intermediate housings 105 anddischarge housing 106 is a pair of horizontally disposed, transverselyspaced conduits 109. Mounted in such housings are a set of sprockets,and further disposed within said housings and conduits is a ropeassembly comparable to rope assembly 69 which is operable to conveymaterial fed into base housing 103 to discharge housing 106. Dischargehousing 106 and the sprocket mounted therein are comparable to dischargehousing 59 and sprocket 68 mounted therein. They operate in a mannersimilar to sprocket 68 and rope assembly 69 to disperse material fromdischarge housing 106 into a container in which the cantilevered sectionof mechanical conveyor 100, consisting of conduits 109 and dischargehousing 106, may be inserted. Insertion of the cantilevered section ofthe assembly may be positioned into a loading position by backing atruck having a container mounted thereon so that such cantileveredsection is received through an access opening in the container, into thecompartment of such container. Feed assembly 102 consists of a bulkmaterial holding vessel 110 having a lower hopper section 111 adapted toconvey material through a rotary valve 112 and a lower hopper section113 into base section 103 of a mechanical conveyor.

[0040] Alternatively to conveying bulk material through a centrallylocated access opening in the end wall of a container with a singlecantilevered section of a mechanical conveyor, material may be loadedinto a container having a pair of transversely spaced access openings bymeans of a pair of transversely spaced cantilevered sections of amechanical conveyor as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. Referring to suchfigures, there is illustrated a truck 120 supporting a container 121which is adapted to be loaded by a loader assembly 122. Container 121has a substantially rectangular configuration defining a compartment123. It further includes an upper wall 124 and a rear end wall 125.Provided in rear end wall 125 is a pair of transversely spaced accessopenings 126 and 127 disposed adjacent upper wall 124. Also provided inend wall 125 is a discharge opening 128 disposed centrally thereinadjacent a bottom wall thereof. Disposed within container 121 is aplastic film liner similar to previously described liner 52, having afirst set of spouts extendable through openings 126 and 127 and a thirdspout extendable through discharge opening 128. Loader assembly 122includes a support frame structure 129, a mechanical conveyor 130mounted on the support frame structure and a material feed assembly 131also mounted on the support frame structure. The mechanical conveyorconsists of a pair of conveyors 132 and 133 each comparable tomechanical conveyor 54, providing a pair of longitudinal extending,transversely spaced cantilevered sections 134 and 135 each comparable tothe cantilevered section described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 6. Cantilevered sections 134 and 135 are adapted to beinserted into access openings 126 and 127 in the container end wall asshown in FIG. 12. The rope assemblies of conveyors 132 and 133 areadapted to be driven in opposite directions so that discharge housings134 a and 135 a of cantilevered sections 134 and 135 disposed withincompartment 123 will cause material to be uniformly dispersed withinsuch compartment.

[0041] Support frame structure 129 is provided with a platform 136supported on a set of wheels 137 to allow the support frame structureand correspondingly mechanical conveyors 132 and 133 mounted thereon tobe displaced toward and away from a truck mounted container to beloaded.

[0042] Feed assembly 131 consists of a material holding hopper 138supported on support frame structure 129 communicating at its lower endwith a pair of screw conveyors 139 communicating with the base housingsof the mechanical conveyors. Bulk material deposited in hopper 138 iscaused to be discharged into the screw conveyors which feed the materialinto the base housings of the mechanical conveyors. The rope assembliesof the mechanical conveyors driven in opposite directions convey thematerial from the base housings to the discharge housings thereof fromwhere the material is dispersed within the compartment of the container.The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 through 13 is similarto the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 with theexception that two cantilevered sections of two mechanical conveyors areadapted to be inserted through a pair of transversely spaced accessopenings in the end wall of the container for filling the container.Preferably, access openings 126 and 127 in the container end wall aredisposed adjacent the upper corners of the end wall so that thecantilevered sections of the conveyors will be positioned in the uppercorners of the container compartment to assure a uniform dispersion ofthe material injected into the compartment and a maximum filling of thecompartment. Also, the lengths of the cantilevered sections of themechanical conveyors are formed of different lengths, and the directionsof rotation of the sprockets in the discharge housings of thecantilevered sections are selected so as to cause the material beingdispersed into the compartment container to be directed inwardly anddeposited within the entire length of the compartment.

[0043]FIG. 19 illustrates a loader apparatus 140 embodying the presentinvention, similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. Itincludes a mechanical conveyor 141 and a material feeding member 142.The conveyor includes a support member 143 rigidly mounted on the edgeof a loading dock 144, a base housing 145 mounted on the support member,a pair of vertically disposed, transversely spaced conduits 146, 146, apair of transversely spaced housings 147, 147, horizontally disposed,transversely spaced conduits 148, 148 and a discharge housing 149. As inthe previously described embodiments, sprockets are mounted in theseveral housings and a rope assembly is disposed along a circuitous pathwithin the housings and conduits for conveying material from the basehousing to the discharge housing. Discharge housing 149 is similar inconstruction and operation to discharge housing 59 described inconnection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, and conduits148, 148 and discharge housing 149 constitute a cantilevered section ofthe conveyor which is adapted to be received within an access opening inan end wall of a container mounted on the flat bed of a truck andmaneuvered rearwardly toward the edge of the loading docket. Materialfeed member 142 consists merely of an inclined chute communicating atits lower end with the base housing of the conveyor through which bulkmaterial to be conveyed to the container, may be fed. The rope assemblyprovided in the mechanical conveyor is driven by a motor mounted in ahousing 150 and operatively connected to the sprocket disposed in basehousing 145.

[0044]FIG. 19 illustrates a loader apparatus 160 which is a modificationof the apparatus shown in FIG. 18. It consists of a mechanical conveyor161 similar to conveyor 141, rigidly supported on the end of a loadingdock 162, and a material feed assembly 163 similar to feed assembly 142with the exception of being provided with a rotary valve 164 throughwhich material to be conveyed to the container may be fed.

[0045] Loader apparatus 170 shown in FIG. 20 also is a modification ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 18 and includes a stationary mechanicalconveyor 171 mounted at the end of a loading dock 172, a support framestructure 173 and a material feeding assembly 174. The feeding assemblygenerally consists of a material holding vessel 175 mounted on thesupport frame structure and provided with a lower hopper section 176adapted to gravity feed material into a screw conveyor 177 which conveyssuch material to a base housing 178 of the mechanical conveyor.

[0046] Loader apparatus 180 shown in FIG. 21 is a modification of theloader apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, and consists of a supportstructure 181 supported at the end of a loading dock 182, a mechanicalconveyor 183 mounted on the support structure and a material feedingassembly 184 partially supported on the support structure. The supportstructure essentially consists of a platform 185 supported on a set ofwheels 186 adapted to ride along a track 187 disposed perpendicular tothe edge of the loading docket. Mechanical conveyor 183 is similar toconveyor 141 with the exception of being mounted on a front end of thedisplaceable support structure. It is adapted to be extended andretracted along with the movement of the support structure. Materialfeeding assembly 184 includes an overhead, stationary material holdingvessel 188, an overhead stationary screw conveyor 189, a lower screwconveyor 190 mounted on the movable frame structure 181 and a flexibleconduit 191. Vessel 188 is provided with a lower hopper section 192which functions to feed material to be loaded into an inlet ofstationary screw conveyor 189. Flexible conduit 191 interconnects thedischarge end of stationery screw conveyor 189 with the inlet end lowerscrew conveyor 190. Material fed into screw conveyor 190 is conveyedthereby to the base housing of the mechanical conveyor wherefrom it isconveyed by the rope assembly thereof to the discharge head of themechanical conveyor.

[0047] The embodiment shown in FIG. 21 permits the use of a stationarybulk material holding means and a displaceable mechanical conveyor. Sucharrangement is facilitated by the flexible conduit disposed between thedischarge end of the overhead screw conveyor and the inlet end of thelower screw conveyor mounted on the displaceable support structure. Whennot in use, the support structure normally is disposed in a rearwardly,retracted position. Whenever a container to be loaded is positioned atthe end of the loading dock, similarly as shown in FIG. 1, the supportstructure is advanced toward the end of the loading dock so that thecantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor aligned with the accessopening in the end wall of the container will be advanced through suchopening into the interior of the container. The flexibility ofconnecting conduit 191 permits such displacement of the supportstructure while maintaining the connection of the material feedingassembly to the mechanical conveyor. Once the cantilevered section ofthe mechanical conveyor is in position within the interior of thecontainer, the drives of the rope assembly in the mechanical conveyorand the screw conveyors may be actuated to cause material in vessel 188to be conveyed through screw conveyor 189, flexible conduit 191, screwconveyor 190 and mechanical conveyor 183 from where it is dispersedwithin the compartment of the container. During the loading operation asdescribed, the support structure of the apparatus may be displaced alongthe length of its line of travel to correspondingly displace thedischarge housing of the mechanical conveyor along a line of travelwithin the container compartment to correspondingly alter thedispersement of the material within compartment.

[0048]FIG. 22 illustrates a loader apparatus 200 which is a furtherembodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes astationary, support frame structure 201 positioned adjacent the end of aloading dock 202, a mechanical conveyor 203 mounted on the supportstructure and a material feeding assembly 204 mounted on the supportframe structure and operatively connected to the mechanical conveyor.The mechanical conveyor lies in an elevated, horizontal plane andprojects from the support frame structure to a point beyond the edge ofthe loading dock. Its height is fixed so that whenever a truck having acontainer loaded thereon provided with the type of access opening aspreviously described, is backed up to the loading dock with the accessopening in the container aligned longitudinally with the mechanicalconveyor, the leading end of the mechanical conveyor will be receivedwithin the access opening of the container to position the leading endof the mechanical conveyor within the compartment of the container.Conveyor 203 includes a pair of horizontally disposed, transverselyspaced conduits 205, 205 interconnecting and intercommunicating a basehousing 206 and a discharge housing 207, sprockets mounted in the baseand discharge housings, a rope assembly reeved about such sprockets andlying along a circuitous path provided by housings 206 and 207 andconduits 205, 205 and a drive motor mounted in a motor housing 208supported on the support frame structure, and operatively connected tothe sprocket mounted in base housing 206. The major portion of themechanical conveyor including conduits 205, 205 and discharge housing207 is cantilevered relative to support frame structure 201, and furtheris supported by a pair of support struts 209, 209. Material feedingassembly 204 consists of a material holding vessel 210 mounted on thesupport frame structure above the rear end of the mechanical conveyor,having a lower hopper section 211 communicating at the lower end thereofwith the interior of base housing 206.

[0049] In the use of the apparatus shown in FIG. 22, a truck providedwith a container mounted on a flat bed thereon to be filled withmaterial contained in vessel 188 is backed up to the end of loading dock202 in a manner whereby the access opening in the container islongitudinally aligned with the mechanical conveyor so that as the truckis backed toward the loading dock, the free end of the mechanicalconveyor will be received through the access opening in the containerend wall, into the interior of the container. Once the truck is fullybacked up, the discharge head of the mechanical conveyor is properlypositioned of the container and the spout of the liner disposed in thecompartment of the container is wrapped around conduit 205, 205 to sealthe access opening, the motor for the sprocket contained in base housing206 is started to cause material gravity fed into the base housing ofthe conveyor to be conveyed by the rope assembly of the conveyor to thedischarge housing 207 from where it is dispersed within the compartmentof the container. Discharge housing 207 is similar in construction andoperation to discharge housing 59 described in connection with theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. In this embodiment, the positionof the discharge housing within the container compartment may be variedby repositioning the vehicle along a longitudinal line of travel. Theprinciple advantage of this particular embodiment is simplicity ofconstruction. It requires simply a stationary support frame structuresupporting a conventional, stationary material holding vessel, and astationary simple form of a mechanical conveyor.

[0050]FIG. 23 illustrates a loader apparatus 220 similar to theapparatus shown in FIG. 22 with the exception that the major portion ofthe apparatus is displaceable along a longitudinal line of travel. Theapparatus includes a stationary support frame structure 221 suspendedfrom an overhead building structure 222 and provided with a longitudinaltrack 223, a displaceable support frame structure 224 suspended fromstationary support structure 221, a mechanical conveyor 225 disposedhorizontally, supported at a rear end thereof on the lower end of themovable support frame structure and projecting longitudinally and amaterial feeding assembly 226 mounted on the movable support framestructure. The movable support frame structure is provided with aplurality of depending frame members 227 connected at a lower end by abase plate member 228 and connected at their upper ends to a set ofwheels 229 adapted to ride along longitudinally disposed track 223.Mechanical conveyor 225 is similar to mechanical conveyor 203 andincludes a base housing 230 supported at the lower end of the movablesupport frame structure and having a drive sprocket mounted therein, alongitudinally spaced discharged housing 231 having a driven sprocketmounted therein, similar in construction and operation to dischargehousing 68, a pair of longitudinally disposed, transversely spacedconduits 232, 232 interconnecting and intercommunicating base anddischarge housings 230 and 231, and a rope assembly disposed in suchhousings and connecting conduits, reeved around the sprockets mounted inhousings 230 and 231. The sprocket mounted in base housing 230 is drivenby a motor mounted in housing 233 supported on base member 222 of themovable support frame structure. Material feeding assembly 226 includesa material holding vessel 234 mounted on the upper end of the movablesupport frame structure, provided with a lower hopper section 235communicating at a lower end thereof with the interior of base housing230 of the mechanical conveyor.

[0051] Loader apparatus 220 is intended to be suspended from a buildingstructure disposed adjacent a loading dock 236. Mechanical conveyor 225is positioned at a height corresponding to the level of an accessopening in a container mounted on a flat bed of a vehicle to bepositioned at the end of the loading dock to permit the insertion of thecantilevered end of the mechanical conveyor through such access openinginto the interior of the container. The mechanical conveyor is spacedbelow and disposed parallel to guide tracks 223 of stationary supportframe structure 221 so that when the movable frame structure isdisplaced relative to the stationary support frame structure, themechanical conveyor will correspondingly be displaced along alongitudinal line of travel. The movable support frame structure alongwith the mechanical conveyor may be displaced along a longitudinal lineof travel either by motors operating wheels 229 or possibly manually bya handle or rope depending from the movable support frame structure,depending upon the size and weight of the movable portion of theapparatus, the accessibility to it and the rolling friction of wheels229 supporting the displaceable portion of the apparatus.

[0052] When not in use, the movable support frame structure ispositioned at its rearmost position adjacent the rear end of guidetracks 223. Whenever a vehicle provided with a container is to be filledwith material contained in vessel 234, the vehicle is backed towards theend of loading dock 236 with the access opening in the rear end wall ofthe container being positioned in longitudinal alignment with thecantilevered portion of mechanical conveyor 225. Once the vehicle hasbeen backed up to the loading dock and the liner spout in the accessopening of the container end wall is opened to permit the insertion ofthe leading end of the cantilevered portion of the mechanical conveyor,the movable support frame structure of the apparatus is advanced towardthe container thus positioned to cause the insertion of the leading endof the conveyor through the access opening into the interior of thecontainer. When the discharge housing of the conveyor is properlypositioned within the container, the drive motor of the conveyor isoperated to drive the rope assembly of the conveyor and thus causematerial flowing from vessel 234 to flow into the base housing of theconveyor, be transported by the rope assembly of the conveyor to thedischarge housing thereof and be dispersed therefrom into thecompartment of the container. During the dispensing of the materialwithin the container, the movable support frame structure may bedisplaced along its longitudinal line of travel to reposition thedischarge housing of the mechanical conveyor along the length of thecontainer, as desired. Upon filling the container, the movable supportframe structure is retracted to its rearmost position, withdrawing theleading end of the conveyor from the interior of the compartment, andthe access opening is sealed to permit the vehicle to be driven off.

[0053]FIG. 24 illustrates a loader apparatus 240 embodying the presentinvention which includes a stationary support frame structure 241, amovable support frame structure 242, a mechanical conveyor 243 mountedon the movable support frame structure and a material feed assembly 244also mounted on the movable support structure and operatively connectedto the mechanical conveyor. Stationary support frame structure 241 isadapted to be positioned adjacent a loading dock 245 and is adapted tosupport a suspended material holding bag 246. Mechanical conveyor 243 issupported on movable support frame structure 242 and is similar inconstruction and operation to mechanical conveyor 54 described inconnection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. Materialfeeding assembly 244 also is supported on the movable support framestructure and includes an intermediate material conveying section 247,an upper hopper section 248 adapted to receive the lower end of amaterial holding bag 246 and communicating with an upper inlet end ofsection 247, and a lower hopper section 249 communicating with an loweroutlet of section 247. A screw conveyor 250 further conveys materialfrom hopper section 249 to a base housing 251 of the mechanicalconveyor.

[0054] When not in use, the movable support frame structure is disposedin a retracted position displaced rearwardly of the stationary supportframe structure. When a vehicle hauling a container to be filled ispositioned adjacent the end of the loading dock, the movable supportframe structure is advanced to the position shown in FIG. 24 so that thecantilevered portion of the mechanical conveyor is received through theaccess opening in the container rear wall and positioned within thecompartment of the container, and upper funnel section 248 thereof ispositioned to receive the lower end of a material holding bag 246. Withthe movable support frame structure thus positioned, a fork lift trackor other means may be used to suspend a material holding bag 246 fromthe upper end of the stationary support frame structure with the lowerend of the bag received in the upper hopper section 248. The lower endof the bag then may be opened to allow material to gravity flow throughintermediate section 244 and lower hopper section 245 into the inlet endof screw conveyor 249. Operation of the screw conveyor and themechanical conveyor would then cause material fed into the screwconveyor to be conveyed and dispersed within the interior of thecontainer.

[0055] Loader apparatus 260 shown in FIG. 25 includes a bag dumpassembly 261 operatively connected to a mechanical conveyor 262. The bagdump assembly is provided with a set of legs 263 supported on a set ofwheels 264, a housing 265 supported on the upper ends of such legmembers, having an opening in a rear side thereof closable by a door266, a hopper 267 depending from housing 265 and communicating therewithand a screw conveyor 268 adapted to receive material from hopper 267.Mechanical conveyor 262 is similar in construction and operation tomechanical conveyor 54 described in connection with the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 6, and includes a motor housing 269 supported on aset of wheels and a base housing 270 connected to screw conveyor 268 andadapted to receive material therefrom.

[0056] Apparatus 260 is particularly adapted to accommodate the loadingof material contained in small bags into a transportable container. Inthe use of the apparatus, whenever a vehicle loaded with a container ispositioned adjacent loading dock 271, the apparatus may be maneuveredmanually to insert the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyorthrough the access opening provided in the end wall of the container.With the cantilevered section of the mechanical conveyor thus insertedin the container to be filled, the motors for the screw conveyor and themechanical conveyor may be operated to drive the screw member in thescrew conveyor and the rope assembly in the mechanical conveyor. Bagscontaining bulk material to be loaded into the container are then rippedopened by the operator and the contents thereof are dumped into housing265 through the opening therein. The bulk of such material is caused toflow downwardly through hopper 267 to the screw conveyor from where itis conveyed by the screw conveyor and the mechanical conveyor to theinterior of the container being filled. Typically, housing 265 willinclude a filter unit which will operate to draw airborne particles ofmaterial being dumped into housing 265, into such housing and thusprevent the loss of material.

[0057] Apparatus 280 shown in FIG. 26 is particularly suited for loadingmaterial into a container supplied by a pneumatic conveying line 281.The apparatus includes a stationary support frame structure 282, amechanical conveyor 283 and a material feeding assembly 284. Themechanical conveyor is similar in construction and operation tomechanical conveyor 54 described in connection with the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 6. Material feeding assembly 284 includes a hopper285 supported on structure 282, a screw conveyor 286 connected to a basehousing 287 of the mechanical conveyor and an air lock disposed betweenthe lower outlet of hopper 285 and the inlet of screw conveyor 286.Pneumatic conveying line 281 is connected to hopper 285 to supply bulkmaterial to be loaded therein, which material is caused to flowdownwardly through air lock 288 into the inlet end of screw conveyor286. As previously described, the screw conveyor conveys such materialto the mechanical conveyor which conveys the material to the interior ofthe compartment being filled in a manner as previously described. Thematerial feeding assembly further is provided with a filter unit 289supported on the support frame structure, having an inlet communicatingwith hopper 285. As a large volume of air carrying bulk material is fedthrough line 281 into receiving hopper 285, the material will be causedto flow through air lock 288 which precludes the passage of the carrierair, and the air in hopper 285 will be exhausted through filter unit 289which functions in the conventional manner to filter out materialparticles.

[0058] The present invention provides a simple, efficient and safe meansfor loading, transporting and unloading bulk materials. The use of amechanical type of conveyor in the manner indicated is highly effectivein conveying bulk material without the disadvantages of prior artsystems and particularly pneumatic conveying systems. It provides asimple construction which is comparatively economical to manufacture,operate and maintain. It may be operated with less energy, is easilymaneuverable and may accommodate a variety of material feeding devices.It does not require the supply of a large volume of air, will notoverpressurize the container compartment and does not present asubstantial dust control problem. Because the material particles areinjected into the container compartment at a speed substantially lessthan the speed of particles dispensed by a pneumatic conveying system,the present invention is less apt to rupture or otherwise damage theliner within the container, resulting in a possible contamination and/orloss of material. The cantilevered feature of the mechanical conveyor ofthe invention and the capability of displacing such conveyor providesfor the advantageous positioning of the dispensing head of the conveyorwithin the container to more uniformly dispense the material. Theshallow construction of the cantilevered section of the mechanicalconveyor inserted into the container compartment, and the particularorientation of the sprocket at the end of the cantilevered sectionallows the inserted conveyor section to be positioned close to the topwall of the container thus optimizing the amount of material loaded intothe container. The centrifugal force provided by the travel of the ropeassembly around the sprocket mounted in the inserted end of the conveyorprovides a broad dispersement pattern of material injected into thecontainer which thus provides a widespread deposit of material in thecontainer. The displaceability of the cantilevered section of theconveyor, the use of a pair of inserted cantilevered sections ofdifferent lengths and the feature of reversing the direction of drivesof the rope assemblies provided in such conveyor sections, furtherprovide for a greatly improved method of handling bulk materials.

[0059] From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident thatthere are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of thepresent invention which come within the province of those persons havingordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned inventionpertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departingfrom the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scopethereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for conveying a bulk material comprising: asupport means; a guide means defining a passageway providing acircuitous path, having a base section supported on said support meansand a section cantilevered relative to said support means; at least twosprockets disposed in said passageway and rotatably supported on saidguide means, one of said sprockets being disposed in said cantileveredsection of said guide means and having a substantially verticallydisposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly having an endless ropedisposed in said passageway along said circuitous path and reeved aroundsaid sprockets, and a plurality of discs secured to and spaced alongsaid rope, of said second sprocket; means for driving one of saidsprockets; said guide means having an inlet communicating with saidpassageway for feeding material therein; and said guide means having adischarge outlet communicating with said passageway about a portion ofthe periphery of said one sprocket.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein said guide means is elongated.
 3. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said second sprocket is provided with an unobstructed,accurate peripheral area permitting the tangential ejection of bulkmaterial fed into said passageway and propelled by said rope assembly.4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said unobstructedperipheral area includes an arc in the range of 90° to 180°.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means is stationary.6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means ismovable along a line of travel.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6wherein said support means is mounted on a set of wheels.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 6 wherein said support means is suspendedfrom an elevated guide track.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1including means for feeding bulk material into said passageway inlet.10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said feeding meanscomprises a gravity chute.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 9 whereinsaid feeding means comprises a screw conveyor.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 11 including a bulk material holding bin having anoutlet communicating with an inlet of said screw conveyor.
 13. Anapparatus according to claim 12 including a rotary feed valve disposedbetween said bin and said screw conveyor.
 14. An apparatus according toclaim 12 including a flexible conduit intercommunicating said bin andsaid screw conveyor.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1 including avent line supported on said support means and having an inlet disposedadjacent to said one sprocket for receiving airborne particles of saidbulk material.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 including a filterassembly and wherein said vent line is connected to said filterassembly.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said filterassembly is supported on said support means.
 18. An apparatus accordingto claim 16 including means for conveying filtered particles of saidbulk material from said filter assembly to said passageway inlet.
 19. Anapparatus according to claim 10 including a rotary valve feedingmaterial through said chute.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 1including a pneumatic conveyor for feeding said bulk material into saidpassageway.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 20 including an air lockdisposed between said pneumatic conveyor and said passageway.
 22. Anapparatus according to claim 20 including a filter assembly communicablewith said pneumatic conveyor.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 22including a bin disposed between said air lock and said filter assemblyand wherein said pneumatic conveyor communicates with said bin.
 24. Anapparatus according to claim 21 including a screw conveyor disposedbetween said air lock and said passageway inlet.
 25. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises an elongated,substantially horizontal structure.
 26. An apparatus according to claim25 wherein said horizontal structure is suspended from an elevatedstructure.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein saidhorizontal structure is stationary.
 28. An apparatus according to claim26 wherein said horizontal structure is movable along a line of travel.29. An apparatus according to claim 25 including means for feeding bulkmaterial into said passageway.
 30. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein said guide means comprises an elevated, substantially horizontalsection including said one sprocket and a substantially vertical sectionincluded said other sprocket.
 31. An apparatus according to claim 30wherein said guide means is stationary.
 32. An apparatus according toclaim 30 wherein said guide means is movable along a line of travel. 33.An apparatus according to claim 30 including idler sprockets disposedbetween said sections about which said rope assembly is traveled.
 34. Anapparatus according to claim 30 wherein said passageway inlet isdisposed in said substantially vertical section.
 35. An apparatusaccording to claim 34 including means for feeding bulk material throughsaid passageway inlet.
 36. An apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid guide means comprises an elevated, substantially horizontal sectionincluding said one sprocket, a lower, substantially horizontal sectionincluding said other sprocket and an intermediate, substantiallyvertical section.
 37. An apparatus according to claim 36 wherein saidsupport means is stationary.
 38. An apparatus according to claim 36wherein said support means is movable along a line of travel.
 39. Anapparatus according to claim 36 including idle sprockets disposedbetween said sections about which said rope assembly is trained.
 40. Anapparatus according to claim 36 wherein said passageway inlet isdisposed in said lower, substantially horizontal section.
 41. Anapparatus according to claim 40 including means for feeding bulkmaterial through said passageway inlet.
 42. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said sprocket driving means is operable to drive saidone sprocket in clockwise or counterclockwise directions.
 43. Anapparatus according to claim 1 including a pair of said guide means. 44.An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said driving means of saidguide means are operable to rotate said one sprocket in oppositedirections.
 45. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein each of saidguide means is elongated.
 46. An apparatus according to claim 43 whereineach of said one sprockets is provided with an unobstructed, arcuateperipheral area permitting the tangential ejection of bulk materials fedinto said passageways by said rope assemblies.
 47. An apparatusaccording to claim 43 wherein said support means is movable along a lineof travel.
 48. An apparatus according to claim 47 wherein said supportmeans is mounted on a set of wheels.
 49. An apparatus according to claim47 wherein said support means is suspended from an elevated guide track.50. An apparatus according to claim 43 including means for feeding bulkmaterial into said passageway inlet.
 51. An apparatus according to claim43 wherein each of said guide means is provided with a vent line havingan inlet disposed said one sprocket thereof for receiving airborneparticles of said bulk material disposed by said one sprocket.
 52. Anapparatus according to claim 51 including a filter assembly and whereinsaid vent lines are connected to said filter assembly.
 53. An apparatusaccording to claim 43 wherein each of said guide means comprises anelongated, substantially horizontal structure.
 54. An apparatusaccording to claim 53 wherein each of said guide means is suspended froman elevated structure.
 55. An apparatus according to claim 43 whereineach of said guide means comprises an elevated, substantially horizontalsection including said one sprocket thereof, and a substantiallyvertical section including said other sprocket thereof.
 56. An apparatusaccording to claim 55 wherein each of said guide means includes an idlersprocket disposed between said sections thereof about which said ropeassembly thereof is trained.
 57. An apparatus according to claim 53 inwhich said horizontal sections are of different lengths.
 58. Anapparatus according to claim 55 wherein said substantially horizontalsections of said guide means are of different lengths.
 59. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein each said drive means comprises variablespeed drives.
 60. An apparatus for dispersing a bulk material over aselected area, comprising: a support means; a first housing mounted onsaid support means; a second housing; a pair of conduits interconnectingsaid first and second housings to provide a circuitous path; a sprocketrotatably mounted in each of said housings; a rope assembly including arope disposed in said housing and said conduits, along said circuitouspath and reeved about said sprockets, and a plurality of discs securedto and spaced along said rope; said sprocket disposed in said secondhousing having an axis of rotation disposed substantially vertically;said second housing having an opening disposed arcuately about a portionof the periphery of said sprocket disposed therein; said first housinghaving an inlet for feeding bulk material therein; and means for drivingone of said sprockets, causing material fed into said first housing tobe conveyed to said second housing and disposed therefrom tangentiallyrelative to said sprocket disposed therein through said opening in saidsecond housing.
 61. An apparatus according to claim 60 wherein saidsupport means is stationary.
 62. An apparatus according to claim 60wherein said support means is movable along a line of travel.
 63. Anapparatus according to claim 62 wherein said support means is mounted ona set of wheels.
 64. An apparatus according to claim 60 wherein saidsecond housing includes upper and lower walls and a rear wall, and saidsprocket disposed therein is mounted on a shaft journaled in at leastone of said upper and lower walls.
 65. An apparatus according to claim60 wherein said support means is supported on an elevated guide track.66. An apparatus according to claim 60 including means for feeding bulkmaterial into said first housing inlet.
 67. An apparatus according toclaim 66 wherein said feeding means comprises a gravity chute.
 68. Anapparatus according to claim 67 including a rotary valve mounted on saidchute.
 69. An apparatus according to claim 66 wherein said feeding meanscomprises a screw conveyor
 70. An apparatus according to claim 69including a bulk material holding bin having an outlet communicatingwith an inlet of said screw conveyor.
 71. An apparatus according toclaim 70 including a rotary feed valve disposed between said bin andsaid screw conveyor.
 72. An apparatus according to claim 70 including aflexible conduit intercommunicating said bin and said screw conveyor.73. An apparatus according to claim 60 including a vent line supportedon at least one of said conduits and having an inlet disposed adjacentto said second housing for receiving airborne particles of said bulkmaterial.
 74. An apparatus according to claim 73 including a filterassembly mounted on said support means and wherein said vent line isconnected to said filter assembly.
 75. An apparatus according to claim74 including means for conveying filtered particles of said bulkmaterial from said filter assembly to said first housing inlet.
 76. Anapparatus according to claim 60 including means for feeding bulkmaterial into said first housing, means connectable to a pneumaticconveying line for receiving bulk material therefrom, an air lockdisposed between said receiving means and said feeding means and afilter assembly operating connected to said receiving means.
 77. Anapparatus according to claim 60 wherein said conduits are horizontallydisposed.
 78. An apparatus according to claim 60 wherein each of saidconduits includes an elevated, substantially horizontal sectionincluding said second housing and an adjoining, substantially verticalsection including said first housing.
 79. An apparatus according toclaim 78 including idler sprockets disposed between said adjoiningsections about which said rope assembly is trained.
 80. An apparatusaccording to claim 60 wherein each of said conduits includes anelevated, substantially horizontal section including said secondhousing, a lower, substantially horizontal section including said firsthousing and an intermediate, substantially vertical sectioninterconnecting said elevated and lower sections.
 81. An apparatusaccording to claim 80 including idler sprockets disposed between each ofsaid interconnected sections about which said rope assembly is trained.82. An apparatus according to claim 60 wherein said driving means isoperable to drive said rope assembly in opposite directions.
 83. Anapparatus for dispersing a bulk material over a selected area,comprising: a support means including a pair of transversely spacedsegments; each of said segments having a first housing and a secondhousing, a pair of conduits interconnecting said first and secondhousings providing a circuitous path, a sprocket mounted in each of saidhousings and a rope assembly including a rope disposed in said first andsecond housings, along said circuitous path and reeved around saidsprockets, and a plurality of discs secured to and spaced along saidrope; each of said sets of conduits of having a cantilevered sectionconnected to said second housing thereof; said sprockets disposed insaid second housings having axes of rotation disposed substantiallyvertically; each of said second housings having an opening disposedarcuately about a portion of the periphery of said sprocket mountedtherein; each of said first housings having an inlet for feeding bulkmaterial therein; and each of said segments having means for driving oneof said sockets thereof, causing material fed into said first housingthereof to be conveyed to said second housing thereof and disposedtherefrom tangentially relative to said sprocket mounted therein,through the opening of said second housing.
 84. An apparatus accordingto claim 83 wherein said cantilevered conduit sections of said segmentsare of different lengths.
 85. An apparatus according to claim 83 whereinthe drive means of said segments are operable to drive said ropeassemblies in opposite directions.
 86. An apparatus according to claim83 wherein said support means is supported from below.
 87. An apparatusaccording to claim 86 wherein said support means is movable along a lineof travel.
 88. An apparatus according to claim 83 wherein said supportmeans is supported from an overhead structure.
 89. An apparatusaccording to claim 88 wherein said support means is movable along a lineof travel.
 90. An apparatus according to claim 84 wherein each of saidsegments includes a vent line supported on said support means, having aninlet disposed adjacent said second housing thereof.
 91. An apparatusaccording to claim 90 wherein said vent lines are connected to a filterunit mounted on said support means.
 92. An apparatus according to claim84 wherein said conduits of each of said segments include asubstantially vertical section connected to said cantilevered section ofsaid segment.
 93. An apparatus according to claim 92 wherein each ofsaid segments includes third and fourth housings, each connecting a pairof cantilevered and substantially vertical conduits and having an idlersprocket mounted therein, and said rope assembly of said segment isreeved about said idler sprocket.
 94. An apparatus according to claim 92wherein said conduits of each of said segments include a lower,substantially horizontal section connected to said substantiallyvertical section of said segment.
 95. An apparatus according to claim 94wherein each of said segments includes fifth and sixth housings, eachconnecting a pair of substantially vertical and substantially horizontalconduits and having an idler sprocket mounted therein, and said ropeassembly of said segment reeved about said idler sprocket.
 96. A headassembly for a bulk material conveyor having a pair of transverselyspaced, cantilevered conduits providing a guide path for a rope assemblyincluding an endless rope and a plurality of discs secured to and spacedalong said rope, comprising: a housing supported on said conduits; asprocket mounted on said housing having said rope assembly reevedthereabout, said sprocket having a substantially vertical axis ofrotation; and said housing having an arcuate opening relative to theperiphery of said sprocket wherein bulk material conveyed by said discsof said rope assembly will be caused to be propelled tangentiallyrelative to said sprocket, through said arcuate opening, as said ropeassembly travels about said sprocket.
 97. A head assembly according toclaim 96 wherein said housing includes a rear wall having openingscommunicating with said conduits and upper and lower walls, and saidsprocket is provided with a shaft journaled in at least one of saidupper and lower walls.
 98. A bulk material handling system comprising: atransportable container defining a compartment, having an upper wall andan end wall provided with a closable access opening in an upper endthereof; and An apparatus including a support means, a first housingmounted on said support means, a second housing, a pair of conduits eachinterconnecting and intercommunicating with said housings to provide acircuitous path, a housing mounted in each of said housings with thesprocket mounted in said second sprocket having a substantially verticalaxis of rotation, a rope assembly having an endless rope disposed insaid housings and said conduits, along said circuitous path, reevedabout said sprockets and provided with a plurality of discs secured toand spaced along said rope, said first housing having an inlet forfeeding bulk material therein and said second housing having an arcuateoutlet opening relative to the periphery of said sprocket mountedtherein whereby bulk material fed into said first housing will beconveyed by said rope assembly to said second housing and propelledsubstantially tangentially through said outlet opening as said ropeassembly travels about said sprocket in said second housing; and saidconduits having a cantilevered section including said second housing,insertable into said compartment of said container through said accessopening in said end wall of said container for loading said bulkmaterial in said compartment.
 99. A system according to claim 98 whereinsaid access opening in said container end wall is disposed in the centerof said end wall.
 100. A system according to claim 98 wherein saidaccess opening in said container end wall is disposed adjacent a sidewall of said container.
 101. A system according to claim 98 including apair of access openings in said container end wall, each being disposedadjacent a side wall of said container.
 102. A system according to claim98 wherein said support means is movable along a line of travel.
 103. Asystem according to claim 98 wherein said support means rests on asupport structure.
 104. A system according to claim 98 wherein saidsupport means is supported by an overhead structure.
 105. A systemaccording to claim 98 including a vent line supported on said supportmeans and having an inlet end insertable in said access opening in saidcontainer end wall.
 106. A system according to claim 105 wherein saidvent line is operatively connected to a filter unit.
 107. A systemaccording to claim 106 wherein said filter unit is mounted on saidsupport means.
 108. A system according to claim 98 including means forfeeding bulk material into said inlet of said first housing.
 109. Asystem according to claim 108 wherein said feeding means comprises agravity chute.
 110. A system according to claim 109 wherein said chuteis provided with a rotary feed valve.
 111. A system according to claim108 wherein said feeding means comprises a screw conveyor.
 112. A systemaccording to claim 111 including a bulk material holding vessel havingan outlet communicating with an inlet of said screw conveyor.
 113. Asystem according to claim 112 including a rotary feed valve disposedbetween said vessel and said screw conveyor.
 114. A system according toclaim 112 including a flexible conduit intercommunicating said vesseland said screw conveyor.
 115. A system according to claim 108 includinga vessel mounted on said support means having an inlet connectable tomeans for pneumatically conveying bulk material to said vessel, and anoutlet communicating with said inlet of said first housing, an air lockdisposed between said vessel and said first housing and a filterassembly having an inlet communicable with said vessel.
 116. A systemaccording to claim 98 wherein said compartment of said container isprovided with a liner having an access opening through which saidcantilevered section may be inserted for dispersing said bulk materialwithin said liner.
 117. A system according to claim 98 wherein said endwall of said container is provided with a pair of access openings, eachdisposed adjacent said top wall of said container and a side wallthereof, and a pair of said conveyors each having a cantilevered sectioninsertable in one of said access openings.
 118. A system according toclaim 117 wherein said cantilevered sections are of different lengths.119. A system according to claim 98 wherein said end wall of saidcontainer includes a closable discharge outlet disposed adjacent abottom wall of said container.
 120. A system according to claim 98wherein said container is mountable on a truck.
 121. A system accordingto claim 120 wherein said container is tiltable relative to said truckfor gravity discharging bulk material contained therein through adischarge outlet.
 122. A system according to claim 98 wherein saidcontainer is transportable on intermodal craft.
 123. A system accordingto claim 98 wherein said container is transportable on one or more formsof craft selected from a group including land, water and air craft. 124.A system according to claim 98 including a first craft for transportingsaid container from a first to a second destination, a second craft fortransporting said container from said second destination to a thirddestination, a third craft for transporting said container from saidthird destination to a fourth destination, means for loading andunloading said container with respect to said craft, and means fortilting said container at said fourth destination.
 125. A systemaccording to claim 124 wherein each of said craft is selected from agroup including a truck, a rail car, a water craft and an aircraft. 126.A system according to claim 124 including a fourth craft fortransporting said container from a fourth destination to a fifthdestination, and said tilting means is operable to tilt said containerat said fifth destination.
 127. A system according to claim 126 whereineach of said craft is selected from a group including a truck, a railcar, a water craft and an aircraft.
 128. A method of loading a bulkmaterial into a container having a top wall and an end wall, comprising:providing an access opening in said container end wall adjacent said topwall; inserting a cantilevered section of an apparatus through saidaccess opening in said container rear wall, said conveyor having asupport means, a first housing disposed on said support means, having aninlet for feeding bulk material therethrough, a second housing disposedon said cantilevered section, means providing a pair of passageways,each intercommunicating said first and second housings defining acircuitous path, a first sprocket mounted in said first housing, asecond sprocket mounted in said second housing having an axis ofrotation disposed substantially vertically, said second housing havingan arcuate opening relative to the periphery of said sprocket mountedtherein, a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in saidhousings and said passageways, along said circuitous path and reevedabout said sprockets, and a plurality of discs secured to and spacedalong said rope, and means for driving one of said sprockets; feedingbulk material to be loaded into said container into said first housingthrough said inlet thereof; and operating said drive means to cause saidrope assembly to travel along said circuitous path, correspondinglycausing bulk material fed into said first housing to be engaged by saiddiscs of said rope assembly, conveyed to said second housing andpropelled substantially tangentially through said opening in said secondhousing, dispersing within said container.
 129. A method according toclaim 128 including venting said container upon conveying said bulkmaterial therein.
 130. A method according to claim 128 includingdisplacing said cantilevered section along a line of travel within saidcontainer.
 131. A method according to claim 130 wherein said line oftravel is longitudinal, permitting the full length of said container tobe filled.
 132. A method according to claim 128 including driving saidrope assembly at a speed sufficient to fluidize said bulk material andthus enhance its conveyance.
 133. A method according to claim 128including driving said rope assembly at a speed sufficient to exert bothair and bulk material displacement.
 134. A method according to claim 128including driving said rope assembly at a speed of 720 feet per second.135. A method according to claim 128 including providing said end wallaccess opening adjacent a side wall of said container.
 136. A methodaccording to claim 128 including providing said end wall access openingin a center of said end wall.
 137. A method according to claim 128including reversing the direction of travel of said rope assembly. 138.A method according to claim 128 including providing a pair of accessopenings in said end wall, each disposed adjacent said top wall and aside wall, inserting one of said cantilevered section into each of saidaccess openings and operating said drive means to cause the ropeassemblies of said sections to simultaneously convey bulk material intosaid container.
 139. A method according to claim 138 including drivingsaid rope assemblies in opposite directions.
 140. A method according toclaim 129 including filtering airborne particles of said bulk materialvented from said container and recycling said filtered particles to saidfirst housing.
 141. A method according to claim 128 including feedingsaid bulk material into said first housing by means of a gravity chute.142. A method according to claim 141 including feeding said bulkmaterials from a vessel to said chute through a rotary valve.
 143. Amethod according to claim 128 including feeding said bulk material tosaid first housing by means of a screw conveyor.
 144. A method accordingto claim 143 including feeding said bulk materials from a vessel to saidscrew conveyor through a rotary valve.
 145. A method according to claim143 including: providing a holding vessel; pneumatically conveying saidbulk material into said vessel; filtering bulk material conveyed intosaid vessel from the air carrier; and conveying said filtered bulkmaterial from said vessel to said screw conveyor through an air lock.146. A method according to claim 128 including providing a liner in saidcontainer having an access opening therein through which saidcantilevered section is inserted for conveying said bulk materialtherein.
 147. A method of shipping bulk material from a first site to asecond site, comprising: providing a loader assembly at said first site,said assembly including a support means, a cantilever section supportedon said support means, a first housing disposed on said support meanshaving an inlet for feeding bulk material therethrough, a second housingdisposed at a free end of said cantilevered section, means providing apair of passageways, each intercommunicating said first and secondhousings defining a circuitous path, a sprocket mounted in said firsthousing, a second sprocket mounted in said second housing having an axisof rotation disposed substantially vertically, said second housinghaving an arcuate opening relative to the periphery of said sprocketmounted therein, a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed insaid housing and said passageways along said circuitous path and reevedabout said sprockets, and a plurality of discs secured to and spacedalong said rope, and means for driving one of said sprockets;positioning a container having a top wall, a bottom wall and an end wallprovided with a closable access opening adjacent said top wall and aclosable discharge opening adjacent said bottom wall, adjacent saidloader assembly; inserting said cantilevered section of said loaderassembly into the access opening in said container; operating said drivemeans to cause circulation of said rope assembly along said circuitouspath; feeding bulk material to be shipped into said first housing,causing it to be conveyed by said rope assembly to said second housingdisposed within said container and dispersing it therein through saidopening in said second housing; withdrawing said cantilevered sectionfrom said container and closing said end wall access opening;transporting said container from said first site to said second site;and unloading the bulk material from said container at said second site.148. A method according to claim 147 wherein said cantilevered sectionis inserted into and withdrawn from said container by displacing saidloader assembly.
 149. A method according to claim 147 includingproviding said access opening in the center of said end wall of saidcontainer.
 150. A method according to claim 149 including selectivelyreversing the direction of drive of said rope assembly.
 151. A methodaccording to claim 147 including providing a pair of access openings insaid container end wall, each disposed adjacent a container side wall,and inserting said cantilevered section sequentially into said accessopenings.
 152. A method according to claim 151 including driving saidrope assembly in a direction so as to cause bulk material conveyedthereby to be propelled in directions inwardly of an adjacent containerside wall.
 153. A method according to claim 147 including providing apair of access openings in said container end wall, each disposedadjacent a container side wall, providing a pair of said cantileveredsections spaced transversely, and inserting said sections into saidaccess openings.
 154. A method according to claim 153 including drivingthe rope assemblies of said cantilevered sections in opposite directionsso as to cause bulk material conveyed thereby to be propelled indirections inwardly of adjacent container side walls.
 155. A methodaccording to claim 147 including transporting said container byintermodal means.
 156. A method according to claim 147 includingtransporting said container by means of at least one of a transportationgroup consisting of trucks, rail cars, water craft and aircraft.
 157. Amethod according to claim 147 including unloading said container bytilting said container to cause bulk material therein to be dischargedthrough said discharge opening in said container end wall by gravityflow.